Farm Smart: How an Award Winning Cornwall Farmer Makes Life Easier While Keeping Tradition Alive 

At Wilkey Down Farm in Cornwall, Christopher Neale and his family run a large and diverse livestock business built on quality breeding, practical management, and a strong farming tradition.

The farm spans 700 acres and includes both suckler cattle and sheep. Christopher runs 150 suckler cows, made up of 90 pedigree Limousin, 30 pedigree Angus, and 30 commercial cows. In addition, the farm bucket-feeds 150 calves, either selling them as stores or finishing them on farm.

Alongside the cattle, the farm also supports 450 ewes, including Texels, Dutch Spotted sheep, and commercial ewes, while another 1,000 hoggs are bought each year for finishing.

A farm built on high standards and steady progress

Christopher places a strong focus on quality breeding and sustainable farming. The farm takes part in the Red Tractor Assurance Scheme and the CHECS Health Scheme, both of which require a high standard of compliance and record keeping.

Wilkey Down Farm has also built a strong reputation in the UK livestock industry. Christopher and his team have won the Southwest Herd Competition multiple times, performed strongly at county and national shows, and secured successful sales at society bull auctions.

Looking ahead, the family continues to invest in the future of the business, with plans to cover silage yards and expand cattle housing to improve efficiency and animal welfare.

Why a livestock farm management app made sense

Before Herdwatch, farm records were managed manually. Feed records, treatments, and compliance paperwork were handwritten, while calf registrations were completed through the BCMS website.

That process took time and created extra admin. When a customer visiting the farm recommended Herdwatch, Christopher decided to give it a try and quickly saw the value.

Using a livestock farm management app gave the farm a much more efficient and reliable way to manage records, reduce paperwork, and access the right information quickly.

Stronger records, faster decisions

With Herdwatch, Christopher now manages calf registrations, medicine records, weight recording, and compliance from one place.

The app provides instant access to key data, which cuts down on paperwork and reduces the risk of human error. As a result, important jobs that once felt slow or repetitive are now much easier to complete.

One of the most valuable features has been weight recording. Tracking performance through the app helps Christopher monitor cattle more closely and make better decisions around finishing and herd management.

Calf registration has also become far more straightforward. Instead of treating it as a separate admin task, it can now be handled quickly as part of the daily routine.

Making inspections much easier

Herdwatch has had a major impact on inspections and compliance. Because records are cloud-based, Christopher can update and review them from the field, from home, or from the office.

That flexibility means inspections are easier to prepare for and easier to manage on the day.

Christopher also rates the customer support team highly, describing the support as 5 out of 5. That confidence in both the app and the team behind it has made Herdwatch an essential part of the business.

A tool Christopher recommends

For Christopher, the biggest benefit is that Herdwatch keeps the farm organised without adding extra admin. It has simplified record keeping, supported better performance monitoring, and made compliance much easier to manage.

Instead of relying on handwritten logs and multiple systems, Wilkey Down Farm now has one clear way to stay on top of livestock records and daily management.

You can read more real farmer stories on our farm case studies page.